The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project for “Implementation and logistics support of a Police Athletic League in Honduras.”

The purpose of this project is to support Honduran’s National Police (HNP) in the implementation of the Police Athletic League (PAL) program in Honduras. The targeted population is at-risk youth in Honduras between the ages of seven (7) and eighteen (18) who live in communities at high risk of violence and gang activity. The Police Athletic League will be launched by HNP Officers in November 2024 as a pilot program with approximately 2,500 children enrolled in 6 principal cities in Honduras: Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Tela, La Paz and Roatan. Soccer will be one of the main target activities available nationwide, including leagues for both females and males for primary and middle school students. This initiative aims to promote inclusivity and equitable athletic development, with teams comprised of 18 participants each, including 6 female and 6 male players in primary and secondary schools.

Goals

• Goal 1: Foster gang resistance and deter drug use among youth through engagement in sports activities and comprehensive educational initiatives. By offering structured after-school programs, the PAL seeks to provide a positive and supportive environment where youth can develop valuable life skills, build resilience, and cultivate healthy behaviors.
  
• Goal 2: Reduce crime and violence perpetrated by youth ages seven (7) to eighteen (18) by engaging them in positive activities that improve their quality of life, develop their skills, and offer the prospect of a better future through sports and activities.
• Goal 3: Improve the relationship between law enforcement personnel and the communities they serve.
• Goal 4: Increase the capacity of HNP’s community police personnel to ensure program sustainability over time

Objectives

• Objective 1: Implement pilot program and expand the Police Athletic League in scope and scale by adding new disciplines and targeting at-risk youth ages seven (7) to eighteen (18) into (4) cities in Honduras.
• Objective 2: Provide administrative and logistical support, including materials and resources, for PAL in the 4 cities and in new departments of Honduras as the program grows.
• Objective 3: Perform monitoring and evaluation activities in each participating program through the HNP Delegations to ensure continued improvement and implementation of best practice.
• Objective 4: Provide motivational activities for youth and instructors through competitions and annual conferences. Recognize outstanding talent throughout the program.
• Objective 5: Within the first six months of award, have an established mechanism for PAL beneficiaries to give back to the cities they live in through community service projects.
• Objective 6: Within 12 months of award, have an established system for private sector participation and contribution towards program sustainability and career/job opportunities for actively or formerly enrolled participants.

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $300,000.00
  
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $150,000.00 to a maximum of $300,000.00
• Length of performance period: 12 months
• Anticipated program start date: November 2024
• Number of awards anticipated: One (1) award

Project Activities and Deliverables

Objective 1

• Activity 1: Survey communities to identify new disciplines that can be implemented in existing programs and/or in new municipalities where the program can expand.
• Activity 2: Identify and select police officers and community volunteers that can become PAL coaches in new municipalities.
• Activity 3: Plan, coordinate, and oversee the delivery of basic and advanced training to PAL coaches to ensure quality throughout the program.
• Activity 4: Provide sport equipment to PAL coaches and participating children to guarantee correct implementation of the different sports and activities.

Objective 2

• Activity 1: Provide sports equipment to PAL coaches and participating children to guarantee correct implementation of the different sports and activities.
• Activity 2: Create, maintain, and regularly update the program’s website and social media outlets (example: Instagram, Facebook, etc.) to provide information to the enrolled participants, attract new audiences, parents, teachers, and coaches.
• Activity 4: Actively publicize and advertise the program through the program’s website, social media pages, as well as connections to local and national media outlets.
• Activity 5: Utilize input from experienced prevention coaches/officers and best practices to constantly improve and innovate the program.
• Activity 6: Plan, coordinate, and conduct daily trainings for all actively enrolled participants.
• Activity 7: Plan, coordinate, and conduct quarterly tournaments in each program nationwide.
• Activity 8: Maintain a database of children who participated in the program. Ensure all personal information is securely maintained and only available to authorized personnel.

Objective 3

• Activity 1: Develop standards and measures of effectiveness by which to measure the program’s impact. By collecting hard data and statistics on the program’s impact.
• Activity 2: Coordinate monthly visits (one per participating program) to observe, evaluate, and give recommendations on PAL implementation.
• Activity 3: Following the visits, provide written reports to the HNP’s Preventive Police Department and INL Honduras of observations from the field visits as well as recommendations for improving.

Objective 4

• Activity 1: Plan, coordinate, and conduct dedicated annual workshops for experienced PAL coaches and volunteers. These workshops should also recognize outstanding talents and achievements.
• Activity 2: Plan, coordinate, and conduct annual competitions for the multiple sport disciplines where kids can be recognized nationally and can become role models and motivators for other communities to join the program.
• Activity 3: Facilitate, synchronize, and oversee all preliminary activities preceding the annual competitions.
• Activity 4: Ensure that police coaches promote values and life skills to the kids before, during, and after each training activity. Encourage children to put these lessons into practice during their time in the program, at home, and with friends.

Objective 5

• Activity 1: Identify and select the best ideas/proposals from PAL youth to improve or enhance their city parks, schools, and neighborhoods among others. Implementer must coordinate between HNP, school principals, mayors’ offices, and community members.
• Activity 2: Provide the necessary supplies and resources for the PAL youth to complete the community service projects as planned.
• Activity 3: Promote the community service projects throughout PAL and HNP social media (e.g., Instagram, Facebook).

Objective 6 

• Activity 1: Promote PAL among local governments and the private sector to obtain support for ongoing activities.
• Activity 2: Seek funding opportunities for program graduates to continue with their higher education at local universities or technical programs.
• Activity 3: Conduct talent scouting activities that allow first and second division professionals of different sport disciplines within Honduras to show the skills and abilities to be considered for professional teams.
• Activity 4: Keep a database and follow up with all the youth that obtain scholarships or are scouted by professional leagues nationwide. Ensure all personal information is secure and only available to authorized personnel.

Participants and Audiences

• The target audiences are at-risk youth ages 7-18 living in neighborhoods at high risk of violence and gang activity, PAL coaches, volunteers, and parents.

Priority Region/Countries

Honduras is the priority country, with 6 cities initially participating in the program (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and Tela) with intention to expand this cooperative agreement to 18 departments nationwide.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  
• U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
• U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code or section 26 US 115 of the U.S. tax code;
• Foreign-based non-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
• Foreign-based educational institutions
• Applicants must also meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply to this NOFO:
• Proven prior experience of similar programs/projects in Honduras or other countries in Central America.

Source: https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/nofo-implementation-and-logistics-support-of-a-police-athletic-league-in-honduras/